As the first point of contact for top-level executives, you’re a pro at managing communications, schedules, and sensitive information. Your executive assistant resume should demonstrate these multitasking skills and prove to hiring managers you can support senior-level professionals. This guide offers expert strategies and quick tips to help you create a results-driven resume showcasing the best of your administrative career.
Finding a modern template is key to creating a compelling executive assistant resume. Your resume should include these sections:
List your most up-to-date contact information at the top of your resume. Provide your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your LinkedIn profile. This makes it simple for execs and human resources (HR) professionals to get a hold of you for an interview.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn
Your profile or resume objective is like a sneak peek of your career highlights. It gives employers a quick snapshot of who you are as an executive-level administrative professional. Include a brief summary of your skills, experience, and what makes you unique from other applicants. Aim to engage the reader and establish your ability to handle the schedules and communications of senior leaders.
Highly organized executive assistant with nearly seven years of experience providing high-level administrative support to senior government and health care professionals. Proven track record in budget management, overseeing a departmental budget of $500,000. Strong research and data verification skills, contributing to informed decision-making processes.
From managing busy schedules to coordinating interdepartmental projects, you rely on an impressive set of skills to offer senior-level support. When listing abilities on your resume, be sure to include a mix of both hard and soft skills. This will show employers you’re a well-rounded candidate who can keep up with technical tasks and interact professionally with fellow employees.
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
Budget management | Communication |
Data entry | Conflict resolution |
Decision support | Customer service |
Documentation management | Emotional intelligence |
Event planning | Flexibility |
Microsoft Office suite | Initiative |
Note-taking | Multitasking |
Project coordination | Negotiation |
Report preparation | Organization |
Travel coordination | Time management |
Action verbs help you concisely state what you’ve accomplished in previous roles. Instead of describing your job responsibilities using first-person language like, “I was responsible for,” use action verbs to start each bullet point in your professional experience section. These words can liven up your writing and help to avoid sounding redundant or wordy. Here are some action verbs to use in your executive assistant resume:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Administered | Anticipated |
Balanced | Collaborated |
Coordinated | Executed |
Facilitated | Implemented |
Initiated | Managed |
Negotiated | Optimized |
Resolved | Streamlined |
Synchronized |
Build out this section with your most recent positions. Under each job, describe what you were responsible for day-to-day and any noteworthy achievements. Explain how you juggled multiple executive schedules, handled budgets, and collaborated with other departments.
Executive Assistant, State of North Carolina, Wake County, NC
February 2018 – present
Executive Assistant, Signify Health, Burnsville, NC
December 2016 – January 2018
As you outline your past job descriptions, use numbers to bring your achievements and responsibilities to life. Percentages and monetary figures show you’ve not only done your job but excelled at it. It’s evidence that you’re a valuable asset to senior leadership.
The job market for administrative professionals is expected to shrink over the next decade. That means you could be facing tough competition for executive assistant positions. Your best strategy to stand out is tailoring your resume for every job you apply for. A customized resume shows you’ve done your homework. It’s not just a generic application but a carefully crafted pitch.
For example, imagine an executive team was looking for an assistant specializing in complex international travel coordination. In that case, you would highlight your ability to orchestrate seamless travel logistics across multiple time zones. Prove your meticulous planning skills to make for stress-free, efficient travel experiences.
There are more than 200,000 actively employed executive assistants. So, how can you stand out as a top administrative professional in such a large pool? By demonstrating that you can lead. Operating as a leader doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve had experience managing people. Leadership is cultivated through proactive communication, team collaboration, personal improvement, and career development.
Show that you go beyond the bare minimum requirements of your job and prioritize improving the workplace. From streamlining office protocols to creating an inclusive environment, your ability to lead can be the difference between you and the next applicant.
The best resume format is the one that highlights your most compelling qualifications. If you’ve been an executive assistant for many years, a reverse chronological format will be the best choice. Your extensive administrative experience is the focus, demonstrating stability and a clear career progression.
For less experienced assistants or those transferring industries, the combination resume is often a better option. This format leads with your key skills instead, highlighting all of your relevant abilities. Any transferable skills you’ve gained from past work experiences outside of executive support are featured at the top of your resume.
Starting at the entry level for any job can be a challenge, but there are ways you can present yourself even without direct experience. If you’re fresh out of school and haven’t held any jobs before, you can look at your education and extracurricular activities. Identify your transferable skills, such as communication, organization, time management, and attention to detail. How did you develop or use these skills during school, sports, or clubs?
Anyone with prior unrelated work experience can take a similar approach. Focus on transferable skills, emphasize your software proficiency, and anything close to administrative tasks. Even if these weren’t earned at the executive level, they’re still valuable and applicable.
Provide your relevant academic history and any certifications earned in your career. Include degree or diploma names, institution names, and dates of completion. If you’ve completed administrative coursework or earned a certification in something like Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, list those as well. These additions prove your competence and help you stand out from other applicants.
Associate of Arts (A.A.) Communication, September 2011 – June 2013
Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, NC
Certifications
Timothy Anderson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn
Highly organized executive assistant with nearly seven years of experience providing high-level administrative support to senior government and health care professionals. Proven track record in budget management, overseeing a departmental budget of $500,000. Strong research and data verification skills, contributing to informed decision-making processes.
Executive Assistant, State of North Carolina, Wake County, NC
February 2018 – present
Executive Assistant, Signify Health, Burnsville, NC
December 2016 – January 2018
Associate of Arts (A.A.) Communication, September 2011 – June 2013
Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, NC
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